Demons will dig in, says coach

Neale Daniher might have been lost for words to explain his team's performance against the Western Bulldogs last Friday night, but the Melbourne coach is under no illusions when it comes to the importance of this week's game against Geelong.

"I know the pump is on," Daniher said yesterday. "I picked that up."

After weeks of getting close, but not winning, Melbourne capitulated meekly last Friday, crashing from a 14-point lead midway through the second term to a 21-point loss. And this against a team that had won only two games in the previous 17 rounds.

So the pressure is well and truly on Daniher and Melbourne this week. Its playing list has been dissected, the leadership group scrutinised, the future of the coach speculated.

Daniher has already been the subject of one lot of speculation this year. His president, Gabriel Szondy, said in an interview three months ago that the football department would come under scrutiny if results did not improve. Of Daniher, he said that some people were "baying for his blood" based on results to that stage.

It is believed the Demons would face a seven-figure payout to Daniher if they sacked him, as he not only had a deal for next season, but an option for 2005.

Daniher yesterday dismissed any thought that he would be coaching for his own future over the remaining four rounds.

"I wouldn't have thought so," said Daniher before training at Junction Oval. "I said earlier in the year, it's not just about me, it's about the team and how we play and how we represent ourselves.

"We were very disappointed (with last Friday night) and we've got a great chance to rectify that on Friday night."

Daniher said he understood supporters' feeling, but what Melbourne fans wanted right now was a willingness to fight.

"What our supporters want now from their coach and their players is a bit of spirit, a bit of fight, and that's what we're going to give them," Daniher said. "You dig in and you fight, you step up to the plate. That's what we're going to do Friday night."

Daniher met a core group of senior players straight after the loss to the Western Bulldogs. At the time, he appeared to categorise it as a special meeting, but yesterday he said it was part of the routine and that he would be discussing this week's game with them, too.

"That wasn't a one-off," Daniher said. "Our senior core has got to be able to lead this club."

Asked what he had to say to unhappy supporters, Daniher said that what was done was more important.

Daniher said he had bounced back from his initial post-match reaction and was looking forward to the battle against Geelong. "What do you do? Chuck it in, quit and walk away with your head down? It's not the way to go," he said.

Melbourne did not have the depth on its list, nor the in-form players, to make wholesale changes this week, he said.

But some big names could go, with speculation about Jeff White and Travis Johnstone. White's fitness and effectiveness have both been diminished by an infected shin. Johnstone, who Daniher acknowledged last week was out of form, missed training last night with a sore thigh.

Daniher said it would be "a big mistake" to read too much into any changes to the team this week.

"There will be changes . . . but I'm not suggesting the changes will be scapegoats; they're just blokes that might be out of form."